Here’s one of them costume dramas that usually most of us haven’t heard of until they grab 6 nominations including production design, cinematography, etc.. The film hits general release shortly thereafter, and BAM that’s when we all see it. But this time it’ll be hitting screens around November 6th or so. The trailers make it look gorgeous, and it will... of course be gorgeous. But how is the film itself? One opinion on that is below. This was a test screening, so it was not yet complete. So take this as just the first look. There are spoilers, so beware.
Review: Elizabeth (Gramercy Pictures) - SPOILERS!!!!!
This is my first ever review. I've been waiting to see a decent test screening for a while now and finally I can say I've seen a decent one.
I received passes last week for Gramercy's fall oscar-contender, 'Elizabeth' starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush (sp?), Jospeh Fiennes and Christopher Eccleston (the amazing actor from 'Shallow Grave' and 'Jude', among others). There were bit parts from Sir Richard Attenborough and Sir John Guilgud (sp?). Forgive my attrocious spelling.
The screening was in Century City. Needless to say it was fun sporting my evil grin to those clueless movie screening workers, just knowing that as SOON as I got home I would spill all the beans on their precious little movie. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Anyways, the story was pretty simple. Elizabeth inherits the throne after her half-sister, the queen of England dies of cancer. Elizabeth, though, is Protestant and is pretty much hated by everyone in England due to the fact that most of them are Catholic. Her few friends are her adviser (played almost over the top by a passionate Sir Richard Attenborough), her lover Lord Robert (Joseph Fiennes) and a mysterious man back from exile who we never really get to know (although played quite well from post-Shine Geoffry Rush). The Queen is pursued by both the King of France, in an effort for her to marry his cross-dressing son and also by the King of Spain who wants to marry her himself. Both marriages would benefit her countries well-being both financially and politically. Her adviser hastily tries to get her to mary one of these suitors, but her love is for Lord Robert. Toward the middle of the film, the Pope sends off one of his priests to give letters to all the high officials of England notifying them that a reward will be paid to the man who is first to assassinate the Queen. The Queen knows nothing about this, until she is confronted by Geoffrey Rush and told of the plot to kill her and that her beloved Lord Robert is in on it. She waits until all the guilty parties have signed the letters and then has them all arrested and beheaded, except for Lord Robert whose life she spares just to always remind her of what could have been (her death, not their doomed romance). At the end of the film she vows to become the 'Virgin Queen' and never to marry.
Now, I really like period pieces. Thankfully this one was well put together all around, despite a few flaws. The pacing was quick and contained somre truly suspenseful and dramatic scenes. There was a certain amount of gore, but no Braveheart gore, here.
The acting was excellent. Cate Blanchett is a real talent. Her character went through the most change of any in the film and she portrayed each stage on transition flawlessly. To her innocent beginning as a Queen who knows nothing about running her country to her slow transition to a firce and biting ruler of a country. There was certain scene where her biting commentary to the elder of the country were so dead on, that you could have sworn she improvised.
Geoffry Rush's character was a complete 180 degree turn from the loveable pianist in Shine. Unfortunately his charcater was never really explained. Where he came from, his ambitions, etc. He was sort of dark and villanous, but at the same time you knew his intentions were good. He never really lets anyone get too comfortable with who he is, but just enough that we like him anyways.
Joseph Fiennes, while not as talented as Ralph, did a fine job as the jealous (and married) lover who longs to mary the Queen. His eyes are beautiful like his brother's and so is his endless gaze. Like his brother he can act many an emotion without using words.
Both Guilgud and Attenborough were fine in small parts, although Attenborough looks like he's trying a little too hard to win the oscar voting hearts. Hey, give the credit, though, at his age he can get away with overacting.
My few problems were the fact that because of the length of the film (under two hours), there were vertain things that weren't explained. Like one scene where Lord Robert is having sex with one of the Queen's servants and suddenly starts screaming. He runs off and leaves her for dead. We find out that the dress she is wearing, that she borrowed without asking, from the queen was poisoned. Huh? That doesn't explain why she was covered in blood, nor is the incident ever mentioned in the scenes to come. We also never get to know anything about Geoffry Rush's character.? Why, upon returning to England after exile, and hated by almost everyone does he get the coveted job of protecting the Queen? Why does he stay loyal to her? What is he benefitting? I'm sure I wasn't the only one in the theatre who wondered that. My girlfriend felt the same way.
Also, why in one scene, when the Queen finds out that one of her would be suitors is a crossdresser, does he utter the words 'Up Yours' to her? This is 15th century. Was 'Up yours' a commonly used expression back then? I don't think so.
Despite such minor details the film was both entertaining and enlightening. The pace was quick and the drama was involving. I don't really the oscra commitee lining up to cast in their votes for it. Especially among a year that has already seen 'Truman Show' and 'Saving Private Ryan' and in the horizons are 'Beloved', 'Thin Red Line', 'Prince of Egypt' and possibly even 'One True Thing' and 'Stepmom'. They are gonna need some pretty heavy marketers to compete with that list of obvious oscar-bait.
Either way, I reccomend this film to any period piece buffs out there.
That's it and hopefully I'll get to do this again, sometime. This is my first review, so hopefully I won't get laughed at too hard.
Just call me 'Cichlisuite'
